On disc: Exciter

 
 New Testament
 
- Jörg Petersen -
 
 


 
 Thrash Speed Burn
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Thrash Speed Burn
 
- Umberto Mino -
 
 


 
 Death Machine
 
- Umberto Mino -
 
 

Death Machine

(Massacre Records - 2010)



 
 

 

The real metal masters are back.... why masters??? Do you know someone else that call the vinyl sides with 'Side Heavy' and 'Side Metal'?? Exciter in their new reincarnation that includes the Godfather Jon Ricci on guitars, Rob 'Clammy' Cohen on bass guitar, Rik Charron on drums and the New Yorker Kenny Winter on vocals are back with this new album Death Machine, the second album for Massacre Records and second album for this line-up. We left Exciter with Thrash, Speed, Burn, an ordinary album caused by the legendary line-up problems because the songs were not so good sometimes, but this time the goal is reach but not at 100%. The sound is still Exciter at 1000 per cent (obviously) and K. Winter is more inside the songwriting process, the CD is more fluid from the beginning to the end and this very good for us listeners!!!

The massacre (!!!) begins with the title track Death Machine, the usual and perfect way to start any Exciter album, fast and loud!!!! Dungeon Descendants is a good choice, Razor In Your Back will contain a very cool performance of Kenny Winter. Pray For Pain is a furious declaration of war, Power And Dominition is a classic Exciter mid-tempo, Hellfire is faster than hell, Demented Prisoners is one of the best tracks of this CD that has the cool tracks at the end. Slaughtered In Vain is the best song of the entire CD and the closer Skull Breaker is perfect, because it contains the fury of the first tracks!!!

At the end we can find (as always!!) good and bad things about this band. People that don't like them will continue to say about them that they play the same stuff every time... But we love Exciter for this reason!!!!! LONG LIVE THE LOUD!!!!






 
 










Umberto Mino


  
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Thrash Speed Burn

(Massacre Records - 2008)



 
 

 

Exciter come back with an album of new songs after their last New Testament full of old re-played songs. In this new CD we find a new singer, Mr.Winter from New York, and for the first time on CD Rob Clammy Cohen on bass guitar. After a long fight - I think 11 or 12 times - the old singer J. Bélanger has left the band. And the mastermind John Ricci found this American guy, a very talented singer especially in live gigs.

Anyway, it's time to analyze better this Thrash, Speed, Burn. This new optical disc starts with the first three tracks fast and loud as hell!!! Massacre Mountains, the title track and In Mortal Fear give us old fans the same sensations of their oldest albums like Long Live The Loud. Excellent beginning!!! Crucifixion is under the first tracks level, only a (not so) good song, but the followers Demon's Gate and Hangman. Exciter back on track, and the quality grows on and on. The last four tracks are really good too, Evil Omen, Betrayal, The Punisher and Rot The Devil King are always on high level... So, what can we say about that????  This is another BUY OR DIE record, especially for the die-hard fans like me!!!!!
 
 










Umberto Mino


  
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Thrash Speed Burn

(Massacre Records - 2008)



 
 

 

Founding member guitarist John Ricci started Hell Razor 30 years ago! In 1980 they released their first demo after renaming the band to Exciter. In 1983 their debut Heavy Metal Maniac saw the light of day and soon they were established in the thrash metal scene. Through the years the line-up changed and also their style differed a bit. In the 80's they frequently released album, but kinda slowed down in the 90's. Their last studio album Blood Of Tyrants was released in 2000 and some changes later they released in 2004 New Testament with re-recordings of some old tunes. Now in 2008 they are back with a new singer and a new album called Thrash Speed Burn.

Heavy riffs lead you into Massacre Mountain, the album opener. Guitarist John Ricci and his mates force ahead and steamroll everything. Fast, heavy riffs and high-pitched vocals and screams of Kenny Winter dominate Massacre Mountain and show that they still can kick ass. A thrashy neck breaker, even if the vocals are partly more US metal-like. And they keep going, even speed up a bit for the title track Thrash Speed Burn. Drummer Rock Charron is partly playing some unusual patters, but most of the time is forcing the band ahead with his fast double-bass drumming. Unfortunately the drums sound a bit hollow.... A bit like the 80's releases... Exciter celebrate 80's thrash metal and so the sound complete the impression. After another fast one they slow down and enter doomy grounds with Crucifixion. A nice change and Winter partly sings deeper and sounds so very different. Crucifixion shows the Canadians a bit different, but the majority of songs is fast thrash / speed metal. And that's what they present with Demon's Gate and the following neck breakers! One of my favorites it Hangman which is guitar-driven and Winter varies his vocals from scream to high-pitched parts and deeper ones. Beside that the backings are powerful and kinda push back the lead vocals. More neck breakers and with Rot The Devil King they leave... Good choice to end the album, coz the song has a certain catchiness and will make you listen again.

John Ricci needed 8 years to create the follow-up of Blood Of Tyrants and expectations are high. Did they manage to stay at that high level? Well, Thrash Speed Burn is a good album, but it's not on the same level as Blood Of Tyrants and definitely can't top it. Exciter fans as well as everybody who is in speed / thash metal of the 80's should check this one out!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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New Testament

(Osmose - 2004)



 
 

 

Okay, I know that many metal fans will think that it's a waste of material, but if you are too young to have the classic Exciter albums on vinyl or CD then this collection brings you the best songs at one disc. The songs are re-recorded and better - but authentic - produced. Okay, Jacques Belanger can't compete with Dan Behler, but is doing an amazing job. Partly he remind me a little of his hero Rob Halford... Songs like Rising Of The Dead, Heavy Metal Maniac, Long Live The Loud and Blackwitch show their class. Even newer songs like Ritual Death sound better now. I think it's a good idea, coz so younger fans might discover the old songs which usually can't stand the comparison with nowadays productions. Exciter fans will probably stick to the original recordings, but they should listen to New Testament. Personally I'm quite happy with this album and I think I'm not the only one...
 
 










Jörg Petersen
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)

  
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